New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Larval stages, developmental ecology, and distribution of Scyllarus
sp. Z (probably Scyllarus aoteanus Powell, 1949) (Decapoda:
Scyllaridae)
W. RICHARD WEBBER
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
P. O. Box 467
Wellington, New Zealand
email: rickw@tepapa.govt.nz
JOHN D. BOOTH
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Limited
P. O. Box 14 901, Kilbirnie
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract Phyllosomata and nistos of
Scyllarus sp. Z
taken from plankton around and offshore northern New Zealand and in the Tasman
Sea are presumed to be those of
S. aoteanus Powell, 1949, the most
common
Scyllarus species in this area. The full larval and postlarval
development of this species are described. Three features are characteristic
of
Scyllarus sp. Z phyllosomata; a dorsal crest on the cephalic
shield, dorsal thoracic spines, and a forked telson in middle stages persisting
as two prominent spines outreaching the telson posterior margin in the final
stage.
Scyllarus sp. Z's closest affinities are with a group of
Scyllarus species whose phyllosomata have forked telsons in middle
stages and medium to strong posterolateral telson spines in the final stage.
The nisto is low in profile but distinctive in its armature. Too few
Scyllarus sp. nistos have been described to suggest any group to which
that of
Scyllarus sp. Z can be assigned. The spatial and temporal
distribution of the larvae and postlarvae of
Scyllarus sp. Z are also
described. Although early larval stages and postlarvae are found close to New
Zealand, mid- and late-stage larvae are widely distributed, some well beyond
the known latitudinal range of the adults. There is probably an extended
egg-bearing and hatching period as early stage larvae are caught in most
months. Variable rates of development of the larvae and/or delayed
metamorphosis, are also possible.
Keywords Scyllaridae; Scyllarus; larval
morphology; phyllosoma; nisto; New Zealand
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2001, Vol. 35
M01011
Received 8 January 2001; accepted 27 June 2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2721K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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